Major Changes Coming Soon At Both Ends of Northpark Expansion Project

12/14/24 – Contractors yesterday were busily preparing for major changes at both ends of the Northpark Drive expansion project. Weather permitting, they should take place on December 19th and 20th.

• On the west end, they were prepping for a concrete pour between US59 and Loop 494 on the north side of Northpark.
• On the east end, they were beginning to pave the middle between Russell Palmer Road and G&S Tire and Auto near the Kingwood Diversion Ditch in preparation for a major lane switch.

The project will ultimately accommodate increased traffic while providing an all-weather evacuation route for Kingwood residents.

West End of Northpark

The pictures below taken on 12/13/24 show what’s happening where.

A crew will begin paving this area on 12/20/2024 in the early morning, according to the schedule posted on the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority’s website.

Why Use Tar as a Base Layer

According to ChatGPT, contractors often put tar (or more specifically, a liquid asphalt or bituminous layer) over dirt before pouring concrete or laying asphalt. There are several important reasons:

1. Moisture Barrier – Tar acts as a barrier to prevent moisture from the soil below from seeping into the concrete or asphalt layer above. Excess moisture can weaken the concrete over time, cause cracking.

2. Dust Control – Applying a tar layer helps control dust from the underlying dirt or aggregate base. This ensures a cleaner, more stable surface for the concrete or asphalt to adhere to.

3. Adhesion Enhancement – Tar is often used as a “tack coat” to create a bond between the road base and the concrete or asphalt layer. This helps prevent separation over time, which could lead to road failure.

4. Stabilization – Tar helps stabilize the soil or aggregate base beneath the road. This provides a consistent and uniform surface for pouring concrete, reducing the likelihood of uneven settlement.

5. Sealing the Base – Tar seals small cracks and voids in the base material, preventing water infiltration. Water infiltration can erode the base, leading to instability and potential road damage.

6. Improved Longevity – By addressing the issues of moisture, dust, and adhesion, the tar layer contributes to the overall durability and lifespan of the road.

Using tar as a base layer is especially common in areas where the soil composition or environmental conditions might otherwise compromise the road’s structural integrity.

East End – Russell Palmer to G&S Tire and Auto

I also took these pictures on 12/13/24. They show work at the eastern end of the Phase One project. This work will pave the way for a major traffic switch on December 19th.

On the night of Thursday December 19, 2024, contractors will switch traffic eastbound Northpark traffic from just east of Kings Mill to the area shown in the photo immediately above. Traffic will detour into the middle. They will then close off the existing eastbound lanes through that same stretch of Northpark in preparation for demolition and repaving.

Loop 494 Traffic Switch

That same night, December 19, 2024, contractors will move all traffic onto the new concrete paving on Loop 494. See below.

They will then close off the existing lanes (on the left above) for demolition and repaving.

See the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority web page for Phase One of the Northpark Expansion Project for additional upcoming work.

For a Project History

To learn more about the project history and its purpose, consult these ReduceFlooding.com posts:

• 24/12/10 Northpark Expansion Still Making Progress Despite Holidays
• 24/11/15 Focus of Northpark Expansion Work Moving Toward Loop 494
• 24/10/26 Say Goodbye to the Old Northpark Drive
• 24/10/23 Northpark Crossover at Russell Palmer Closed through Sunday Night
• 24/10/11 Northpark Expansion Shifting into Higher Gear
• 24/10/04 More Northpark Concrete Poured Today; Expansion Update
• 24/10/02 Lane Closure for Upcoming Concrete Pour
• 24/09/16 Pictures of First Concrete Pour
• 24/09/13 Northpark Crews Begin Pouring Concrete Monday, Road Narrowed
• 24/08/18 Northpark Drive Construction Sequence Changing
• 24/08/08 Northpark Drive Expansion Project Overcoming Hurdles
• 24/06/21 Northpark Expansion Obstacles Finally Being Addressed
• 24/04/21 Northpark Floods at Russell-Palmer Road
• 24/04/19 Entergy Makes Some Progress on Northpark but Significant Issues Remain
• 24/04/07 Northpark Entergy Saga: New Power Poles Slowly Going Up
• 24/04/02 New Entergy Power Poles Finally Arrive on Northpark
• 24/03/29 Northpark Expansion Update; Still No Sign of Entergy
• 24/03/16 First Concrete Poured for Northpark Expansion
• 24/03/09 Entergy Ignores City Deadline to Move Power Lines
• 24/03/08 TXDoT, LHRA Engage Kingwood at Northpark Phase II Meeting
• 24/03/05 Details of Phase II Meeting
• 24/02/27 February ’24 Northpark Expansion Update Including Lane Closures
• 24.02/24 Save the Dates: Public Input Meetings for Diversion Ditch, Northpark Expansion Phase II
• 24/02/20 Entergy Escalates Battle with COH over Northpark
• 24/02/16 Excavation of Second Northpark Detention Basin Well Underway
• 24/02/10 Entergy in City’s Crosshairs, Lane Closures Announced
• 24/02/02 Northpark Tree Transplantation Finished, Drainage Updates
• 24/01/13 Excavation of Northpark Detention Basins Starts
• 24/01/07 What Some Utilities Don’t Understand About the Northpark Expansion Project
• 24/01/04 Northpark Tree Moving Starts; Pond Excavation Next
• 23/12/03 Northpark Expansion Presses Forward While Fighting Entergy Obstacle
• 23/11/17 Contractors Strike Oil at Entry (Illegally dumped years ago)
• 23/11/05 City Approves Northpark Expansion Agreement with Union-Pacific.
• 23/10/26 Project moving forward on multiple fronts
• 23/10/12 Transplanting first tree
• 23/10/02 Clearing of south-side entry for second pond
• 23/09/30 Clearing north-side entry for first pond
• 23/09/23 How plan balances flood mitigation, costs, saving trees
• 23/09/02 New entry design, change in construction plans forced by utility conflicts
• 23/08/17 More drainage for Northpark
• 23/08/02 Ditch clearing stretches halfway to 59 in less than week
• 23/07/25 Northpark construction starts in earnest
• 23/04/13 Groundbreaking
• 22/02/19 Update on expansion project
• 21/07/28 Plan details

Posted by Bob Rehak on 12/14/24

2664 Days since Hurricane Harvey